Michel_Paris

I've been several times solo, and it is definitely different than a family holiday. You can do what YOU want to do, and, making broad assumptions, I assume that there a times on any family holiday that you may think to yourself, I would rather do something else, but it is not just MY holiday. This is YOUR holiday. No compromising to accomodate others needs, this ia about you.

This is your chance to do your holiday. You want to sleep in, fine, you want to hang around a hardware store and check out what they have over there, fine...go to a pub, no problem, do nothing but sit at a cafe and people watch, no issue with it. Like art..plenty. Don't really like shopping, don't have to. Want to go to Military museum or the Catacombs, can do. Really like eating fish, but not the family's preference...eat fish every day in Paris.

It will be different. You will become more attuned to what you want and what you think, instead of being part of a "group think". It takes a bit a gumption to decide to do this, and you may or may not take to it, but deciding to use Paris as the place...well you will eat well and see beautiful things at a minimum.

I think everyone should do at least one solo holiday, to stretch themselves as your wife would say.

The negatives...no 'sharing'.

nancy1652

I agree completely with everyone who has given you a zillion reasons to try it alone. I loved my first solo time in Paris this year and can't wait for the next one. You won't regret it. I talked to my partner every night and regaled him with my adventures. It was good for him and for me to stay in touch that way.

MomDDTravel

I actually would not go ;-). I prefer to travel with my husband and he prefers to travel with me. I actually understand you not wanting to go with your 6 year old daughter, because my now 13 year old was very attached to me at 6 and it simply would not have been a great idea for that extended period of time in another country etc. What they did do in order to help them bond was shorter more local trips.

I would suggest you take your daughter for a weekend away instead - in a more local more comfortable venue. Not that you asked about that . But just my two cents.

janisj

MomDDTravel: "<i>I prefer to travel with my husband and he prefers to travel with me.</i>"

Maybe that's why you're still married and I'm not

(wasn't the reason -- honest )

MomDDTravel

Jan - that made me giggle ;-).

I know... it is a hard one for many to grasp - but I really prefer to travel with my spouse and experience things with him.

I have traveled solo - but more so alone with one of my children at any given time - and love that - I find for me, I like to be with someone to experience things together. My travel time and money in this season is so sparse that it would be hard pressed for me to take off alone - or even with a friend for an extravagant trip. I am sure that as we age and become empty nesters that might change.

I really do suggest to the OP that he takes the time/money and does a short trip with his 6 year old in a place where they both might be comfortable... I am not sure where you live OP; but I took my daughter to the American Girl Doll store in Chicago when she was 7 and it was a fabulous experience - had tea - saw the show, got a doll... it was great. If you are by New York that could be fun (or Chicago)... but alas that is not what you asked now is it :-?

Dad/daughter bonding is a fabulous thing.

Magsbags

GO! My second trip to Paris was in June and I spent the week walking the streets of Paris, going where ever I wanted to go, at my own pace, without having to wait for my husband trailing behind. I stayed central in the Latin Quarter and could walk anywhere day and night, as there are many other tourists wondering around doing the same thing. Felt safe and very overwhelmed by the amazing experience of being over the other side of the world by myself. Loved every minute of solo travel and plan to do it again soon. I met many interesting people when I was by myself and more people would talk to me when they saw I was by myself.

gruezi

Hi Clemson,

Let me throw in another idea.

Is there somewhere besides Paris that you would like to go that doesn't really interest your wife or daughter?

Perhaps this is the opportunity to do that trip?

We are a family of 3 women and one man and sometimes I feel he has to do our kind of thing all the time. You may find as your daughter gets older that the same happens in your family.

What kinds of things interest just you? Plan a local or long distance trip around that. Maybe you can take a class. I have done this for several solo trips and it makes you have automatic 'companions' if you are worried about feeling lonely. I took a language class in Munich, a mosaic class in Ravenna, and once spent a month at an ashram... I bet you could come up with your own list of things you might like to try.

Life is short and when your spouse says, "honey, why not take a trip?" I think you should go somewhere...

gruezi

gruezi

oh, just remembered, Cross Cultural Solutions offers one week volunteer trips to exotic destinations... check out their website for another kind of week...

piersy

In the immortal words of the god of sneakers - just do it. You may find out something about yourself.

MomDDTravel

Gruezi - those are great suggestions - as usual.

I did a 2 week long trip "alone" - but it was not "alone" it was just without my family. I volunteered and went to Chiang Mai Thailand. Some place I would have never even though to go alone. I am so glad I did it.